Tom Petty Posthumously Receives Honorary Doctorate in Music From Hometown’s University

December 7, 2021

Tom Petty has recently been posthumously honored with a doctorate in music from the University of Florida located in the classic rock icon’s hometown of Gainesville, Florida.

“Tom Petty is widely considered among the most distinctive and influential musicians over the past 50 years,” university provost Joseph Glover said. “His presence remains significant as seen by abundant radio airplay and the popularity of events such as the Tom Petty birthday bash held in Gainesville. On the U.F. campus, Petty’s famous ‘I Won’t Back Down’ has become a mantra at athletic events – and I personally have heard President Fuchs sing it.”

While Petty never attended the institute, he was once employed as a groundskeeper before embarking on his wildly successful career in music that began in the early 1970s.

—

Photo credit: Jack Fordyce / Shutterstock.com

Written by: Vipology Staff Writer

"I Won't Back Down" Classic Hits Classic Rock Gainesville Music Oldies Tom Petty Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers University of Florida

Rate it

Health & Wellness

If you have felt Pandemic Stress spiking your Blood Pressure, you’re not imagining it… and you’re not alone

Let's face it, 2020 was rough. Americans grappled with a global pandemic, the loss of loved ones, lockdowns that splintered social networks, stress, unemployment and depression. So, it should come as no surprise that the nation’s blood pressure shot up. On Monday The New York Times reported that scientists have found that blood pressure measurements of nearly a half-million adults showed a significant rise last year, compared with the previous […]

December 7, 2021